Surgical blade holder and blade combination

ABSTRACT

A combination surgical blade holder allows simple insertion sequentially of a plurality of blades, each blade having an opening for receiving a cleat and/or an abutment in a blade receiving area on the holder. The holder includes a fixed portion and a rotatable portion that pivot relative to one another in the same longitudinal plane around a pivot point positioned adjacent the blade receiving area and lock together to securely hold the blade in the blade receiving area. While the fixed portion of the holder is gripped in one hand, the thumb or finger of the same hand is used to unlock and rotate the rotatable portion to release and eject the blade singlehandedly, without touching the blade. The fixed portion of the holder includes a cleat and/or an abutment that mate with an opening in the blade. Alternatively, the blade includes a tab that mates with a depression in the blade receiving area to lock the blade in the holder.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 645,387, filed Jan. 24, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,685,which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,387, issued Oct.29, 1991, and based upon U.S. patent application Ser. No. 612,356, filedNov. 13, 1990.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a blade handle or holder which allowsfor the sequential insertion of a plurality of blades for a single useof each blade with subsequent ejection of the blade from the handle forinsertion of an additional blade. More particularly, the inventionrelates to holders for surgical blades of a precise configuration, andto the blades so configured. Also, this invention involves the handlingof contaminated blades in the surgical environment.

2. Background Description

As practitioners-in-the art of surgical blades are aware, AIDS,hepatitis and related contagious diseases present in the blood ofpatients have made the practice of surgery and medicine, in general,more dangerous than was the case several years ago, simply because onemust be extremely careful to avoid contamination of his or her own bloodwith the blood of an infected patient. For this reason, many deviceshave been developed for handling instruments to avoid contaminated sharpedges or points which have been contaminated with the blood of infectedpersons. This is particularly true in the surgical environment wheresurgical blades are used in great quantity and must be disposed ofwithout being touched, if possible, and certainly without the user beingcut or having his or her skin punctured in any way.

Thus, it is important to be able to insert and remove a blade from aholder for the blade, without the user having to actually touch theblade, if possible. If it is necessary to touch the blade, then it isappropriate to touch only the tang portion of the blade and avoid anycontact with the sharp edge. It is to this environment that the presentinvention is directed.

Many arrangements have been developed to obviate the problems discussedabove, and to provide blade holders which will hold the blade preciselyin the position desired, provide ease of insertion so that a user is notcut prior to any use of the blade and/or holder, and insure that theblade is firmly held against any wobbling or movement in the handle,which would reduce the effectiveness of any surgery being performed withsuch a blade.

Arrangements have been provided in the past wherein elongated bladeholders have been provided with two parts of the holder pivotingrelative to each other for insertion of the blade into the holder andfor holding the blade in place. These arrangements have a pivot axis atone end of the two parts forming the holder. With such an arrangement,the user cannot perform removal of the blade single-handedly since it isnecessary to use both hands for handling the two pivoting parts.Representative of such arrangements are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,245,096 and3,906,625. Both of these patents have the pivot axis positioned at theend opposite the end where the blade is inserted.

Other devices of the kind discussed herein include those in which thepivot axis is positioned centrally of the ends of the blade holder.Again, with such arrangements the user must use both hands to manipulatethe two parts around the central pivot axis in order to insert andremove the blade. Representative of such prior art patents are U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,478,668 and 2,637,105.

In order to facilitate a single handed operation for surgical bladeholders and the cooperating blade of the kind discussed herein, thepivot axis is positioned adjacent to the blade during use. This enablesthe user to have a substantially long non pivoting handle portion togrip for opening and closing the device for insertion and ejection ofthe blade. Representative of such arrangements are U.S. Pat. Nos.2,039,443 and 1,914,153. Both of these patents use a separate rotatingejector arrangement which pivots adjacent to the blade to cause theblade to become "unwedged" from its use position for removal of theblade. However, the ejector cams the blade only partially out of itsholder arrangement. The user must, after this camming action, grip theblade for final removal from the handle thus risking a cut from thecontaminated blade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With this invention, by contrast, a blade holder is provided forsurgical blades which allows the user to open and close the devicesinglehandedly. The arrangement includes a fixed nonrotating half of thehandle which has positioned in the blade position thereof a boss whichis configured to be the same as the opening in the tang of the blade tobe inserted. As a further feature, this portion of the holder isindented to the same configuration as the blade tang for easy receptionof the blade. For this reason, the blade may be positioned on the fixedportion of the handle of the invention.

At one end of the boss is a cooperating abutment which cooperates withthe movable portion of the handle in closed position to capture theblade and lock it in a non-movable position for use. The other endpreferably includes a hook or cleat arrangement with an undercut surfacethat serves to positively position and hold one end of the blade. Theopposed half of the blade holder preferably includes a distal or noseend that fits under the undercut of the cleat with the bladetherebetween. Thus, the user, single-handedly, may close the device andwedge the blade in a fixed position effortlessly.

It is equally important in the surgical environment to have the bladeheld in a holder against any movement relative to the holder. Thisinvention is directed to blades modified to accommodate a specificallyconfigured holder for this purpose, the holders, and the combination ofholder and blade. The holder preferably includes opposed cooperatingsurfaces which capture the blade in three dimensions, so to speak,against any movement in the holder with the blade being configured tomeet precisely these opposed cooperating surfaces.

As a further feature of the holder portion of the combination inaccordance with this invention, both portions of the holder preferablyinclude wedge features which mate in closed position to hold the ribbededge of the blade of the invention. The blade portion of the combinationherein preferably includes an opening of expanded width at one end tocooperate with the cleat on the holder. Also, at the very distal end ofthe expanded width opening is an extension in the hole of the bladewhich cooperates with a front or distal end of the cleat. Once the bladehas been used, the user may grip the handle, and with the thumb, movethe movable portion of the handle open around the pivot axis which isadjacent to the blade. In doing so, the user also places the boss sideof the fixed portion of the handle downwardly. For this reason, once themovable portion of the blade handle has been forced open by the thumb ofthe user, the blade simply falls out of the device into a container usedfor such purposes in order to contain contaminated sharp instruments.The user does not touch the blade at all once it has been used andcontaminated.

As a further preferred feature, the blade holder is substantially flatand the two portions of the handle pivot relative to one another arounda pivot with an axis perpendicular to the flat body of the holder, andpositioned adjacent to the position of the blade, as discussed above.Moreover, the two portions pivot around this pivot axis in substantiallythe same longitudinal plane relative to each other. For this reason, theprofile of the holder herein is a simplified flat device easily handledand maneuvered in difficult surgical procedures.

Other preferred devices include different types of blade receiving areasand locking mechanisms. For example, a blade receiving area with a cleatand an abutment that are not connected to each other by a boss so thatonly the cleat and abutment are received in an opening in a blade and alocking mechanism having a channel on the fixed handle portion thatreceives a slanted protrusion on the rotatable handle portion when thedevice is in a closed position.

Another preferred device is capable of receiving the blade in the bladereceiving area while the device is in the closed position, wherein a tabof the blade is locked into a depression in the fixed handle portion ora slanted abutment engages with an opening in the blade to lock theblade in the device.

In addition, other objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawingsand the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side elevational view of a preferred device ofthe invention in its open position exposing the boss structure forreceiving a surgical blade;

FIG. 2 is the structure of FIG. 1 shown in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal end view of the movable handle portion of theholder of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the movable handle portion of theholder of the invention of FIG. 3 showing the opposite side thereof fromthe illustrations in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal end view of the fixed portion of the handle ofthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the fixed portion of the handle ofthe invention of FIG. 5 with the rotating portion removed to show thestructure of the fixed portion underneath the rotating portion;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal side elevational view of another embodiment ofa prefered device of the invention illustrating the combination bladeholder and blade with cooperating interfitting surfaces;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal edge view of the device of FIG. 7 showing thebottom edge as viewed in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial longitudinal view of the device of FIG. 7 shown inopen position, and showing the cooperating surfaces for the blade withthe blade removed;

FIG. 10(a) is a partial longitudinal view of the long fixed handleportion of the blade holder showing the blade mating surface details;

FIG. 10(b) is a side elevational view of blade holder portion of FIG.10(a);

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 10(b) showing details of thecleat on the holder of the invention for cooperating with the opening inthe blade of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a prefered blade of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view along lines 13--13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view along lines 14--14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the blade receiving boss on the longhandle portion of a prefered holder of the invention;

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a blade receiving area on a fixed handleportion of a prefered holder of the invention;

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of another blade receiving area on a fixedhandle portion of a prefered holder of the invention;

FIG. 18 is an exploded isometric view of a prefered holder of theinvention showing a blade with an opening and a cooperating bladereceiving area on a fixed handle portion;

FIG. 19 is an exploded isometric view of a prefered holder of theinvention showing a blade with a tab and a cooperating blade receivingarea on a fixed handle portion;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of a rotatable handle portion on aprefered holder of the invention showing a locking channel; and

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of a fixed handle portion on aprefered holder of the invention showing a locking protrusion that mateswith the locking channel shown in FIG. 20, when the holder is in aclosed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters refer tolike parts throughout the several views thereof, FIG. 1 shows oneembodiment of the surgical blade holder of the invention generallydesignated 10 in its open position with a fixed handle portion 12 and arotating handle portion 14. Two halves 12 and 14 rotate relative to eachother around a pivot axis 29 with a pivot pin 24 for that purpose. Inuse, however, the smaller half 14 rotates while portion 12 is held, andtherefore, fixed.

Front end portions 16 and 18, respectively, of the blade holder halves14 and 12, when open, expose a boss 20 having abutments 22 and 23positioned at each end thereof. Boss 20 is configured to be the same asa conventional opening in the tang of a conventional surgical blade forholding the blade in a fixed position once the two portions of theholder 10 are in their closed position as shown in FIG. 2. L-shapedsurface 21 (FIG. 6) defines the rear end of the indentation in portion18 for receiving the blade body.

That is, front end portion 16 of the blade holder movable half movesover the blade itself and boss 20 to wedge and position both between thetwo front halves 16 and 18 of blade holder 10. When this takes place, ofcourse, abutments 22 and 23 provide a wedging action to hold the bladein a fixed non-moving position. In order to provide the appropriaterotating movement around axis 29, the movable and fixed portions 14 and12 of the blade holder of the invention include cooperating opposedcurved surfaces 54, 52, 17 and 19. This allows for rotation of the partsrelative to each other without any diversion from the desired controlledrotary movement around pivot axis 29 and rotating pin 24.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, movable rotating portion 14 of handle10 includes a locking extension 26 which is received in a slot 28 in thefixed portion 12 of handle 10. When extension 26 moves into slot 28,there is positioned at the bottom of extension 26 an abutment 48, whichcooperates with a depression 30, so that 48 snaps in place locking thetwo parts against relative rotary movement when not desired.

Two halves 12 and 14 also include cooperating curved surfaces 42 and 40,respectively, again for maintaining a proper relative movement of thetwo parts around axis 29 and pivot pin 24. Flat surfaces of the movableand fixed parts 14 and 12 of the handle include a plurality of spacedvertical ridges 32 and 34 which serve to provide the user with africtional gripping surface during use of the holder, when a blade isfixed in the holder. While cooperating curved surfaces 52 and 54 moverelative to each other, in the complete open position of FIG. 1, topsurface 75 of the movable part 14 moves against the top edge of surface52 to serve as a stop against further opening movement.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, these views show the movable portion 14of the blade holder of the invention separated from the fixed portionthereof for clarity. As can be seen in FIG. 4, this view is the oppositeside of portion 14 from that of FIGS. 1 and 2, and 14 includes aplurality of spaced frictional ridges providing a frictional grippingsurface 46. This surface serves to provide the user with a frictionalsurface for the thumb or finger for the opening movement necessary toopen the device to allow the blade to drop from the open blade holder10. Surface 56 on the front end portion of the blade half 14 preferablyincludes an opening 44 which cooperates with abutment 23 on the fixedportion of the device for maintaining the blade fixed between thecooperating surfaces of the fixed and rotating halves of holder 10 ofthe invention.

One of the features of the invention is the fact that the front portion16 from the pivot axis 29 as shown in FIG. 3 is bowed slightly along thesurface 56 to provide a more firm cooperating wedging action betweensurface 56 and the cooperating surface on the other half 12 of the bladeholder 10 of the invention. Both the fixed and rotating halves of theblade holder of the invention include beveled edges 36 and 38, whichprovide a further ease of holding and/or gripping the holder of theinvention during use. Finally, referring to FIG. 4, the movable half 14of the holder of the invention includes a bore 31 for receiving therotating pivot pin 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixed half 12 of the holder 10 ofthe invention is shown separately from the movable half thereof. As canbe seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, bearing surfaces 52 and 53 are shown forcooperating with opposed surfaces on the movable half 14 of the blade 10of the invention. Surface 53 serves as a "stop" for movement to theclosed position of the part 14 in cooperation with the movement of theabutment 48 into depression 30 to cause locking together of the twohalves once the blade is in place between the two halves.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the front end portion 18 is bowed slightly asdiscussed above relative to surface 56 on rotating or movable portion 14so that surface 70 cooperates with the opposed surface 56 in a wedgingaction. This bow may not be visible to the human eye since the degree ofbow is very small in order to provide appropriate movement of the twoparts together, and movement to a non locking position when required toeject the blade. Fixed blade holder half 12 also includes a bore 27 forreceiving the pivot pin 24 as discussed above. The fixed blade holderhalf 12 includes vertical ridges 34 and 35, as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6,on opposite sides thereof in order to provide the user with a frictionalsurface for ease of holding the holder 10 during use.

Thus, in order to use the device 10 of the invention, the user grips theproximal end of the fixed portion 12 of the invention. For this purpose,as will be readily seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a large portion of theelongated device of the invention is removed from any movable part so asto provide a gripping surface for opening and closing the device of theinvention. Thereafter, the user places a thumb or finger against thesurface 46 to provide a force for opening the movable portion 14 of theinvention to expose the boss 20 and opposed locking wedges 22 and 23 forreceiving the opening of a tang of a blade selected for insertion intothe holder 10. The force for opening overcomes the cooperating lockingsurfaces of parts 48 and 30 of the two halves of the holder of theinvention.

Once the holder has been opened, the user may place the bladeappropriately with the opening of the blade over the boss 20. Then, theuser simply moves the movable holder portion 14 so as to cause theabutment 48 to move in position in the depression 30 for locking the twoparts together. With this movement, the blade is fixed in place with no"wobbling" in the holder. Then the user may use the holder with theblade in an appropriate desired way.

Subsequent to use, the contaminated blade may be removed readily by theuser. This is done simply by, again, holding the prioximal end of thefixed portion 12 of the device 10 of the invention and placing the thumbor finger against the frictional surface 46 for movement of the rotatingportion 14 around pivot axis 29. This force overcomes the lockingengagement of cooperating parts 30 and 48 and allows the two parts toopen to a position as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the user may, if theboss 20 is positioned upwardly, simply turn the holder so that the bossis positioned downwardly and the blade will fall out into a containerprovided for that purpose.

For this reason, the user's hands are not contaminated by any blood on ablade which has been used in the holder of the invention. There is norequired movement on the part of the user of any kind to touch or removethe blade from the holder. It simply falls from the holder when theholder is opened, as discussed above.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of a surgical blade holder 60. Inthis embodiment, a combination blade and holder are provided in whichboth the blade and the holder have specifically configured cooperatingsurfaces to hold the blade fixed in the holder in an appropriatefashion. The holder is so configured that only blades with an openingconfigured in accordance with this invention will hold the blade. Theembodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a rotating and a fixed half 64 and62, respectively, in the same manner as the embodiment shown anddescribed in FIGS. 1-6. The two halves rotate around a pivot axis 70 inthe same manner. Moreover, the smaller rotating half has a locking tab61 in the same manner as the embodiment shown and described in FIG. 1.

The difference lies in the specific blade opening boss configurationincluding a cleat 76 and abutment 78 spaced apart to cooperate with aspecific opening configuration in the blade 66 of the invention. Asshown in FIG. 8, the spaced apart abutment 78 and cleat 76 arepositioned on the fixed longer portion 62 of the holder 60 of theembodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8. Further as shown in FIG. 7, the fixedportion 62 of the holder 60 includes measurements 68 which are utilizedby the surgeon during surgery for measuring the dimension of an incisionmade by blade 66. As shown in FIG. 8, further, this embodiment 60 of theinvention also includes beveled edges 80 and 82 and the cooperatingtextured surfaces 72 and 74 to assist in holding the holder 60 of theinvention in a precise manner during surgical procedures.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 13, the specific boss configuration of thefixed portion 62 of holder 60 is shown with the spaced apart cleat 76and abutment 78. As can be seen in FIG. 9, a specific mating feature 100on the fixed portion of the holder 60 and 102 on the movable portion 64cooperate with each other to grip rib back 114 of the blade 66. Becauseof this, rib back 114 of blade 66 is securely captured in both halves ofthe handle and serves to increase the secure three dimensional stabilityof the blade in the holder of the invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, further, distal end 90 of the movable portion64 of the invention includes an opening 88 for receiving therein theabutment 78 on surface 84 in the closed position of holder 60.

Referring now to FIG. 10(a) and 10(b), boss 91 includes the distal cleat76 which has a forward extension 96. Cleat 76 extends on each side topoints 92 and 94 for cooperating with the mating surfaces of blade 66,as will be described in more detail below. As can be seen in FIG. 11, inthe enlarged view of cleat 76, the cleat has an overhang surface 98which serves to lock the blade in place and for cooperating with thedistal end of the opening of blade 66 which opening is specificallyconfigured to cooperate only with the holder 60 described herein.

Prior to describing the configuration of the blade of the invention,reference is made to FIG. 15 which shows an isometric or perspectiveview of distal end 77 of the fixed portion 62. As can be seen in FIG.15, boss 91 is configured for receiving a specific blade opening andshows the spaced apart abutment 78, cleat 76, as well as the rear matingsurface 86 for receiving a proximal end 110 of blade 66. Also, the viewin FIG. 15 shows the surface 100 for cooperating with surface 102 forengaging ribbed portion 114 of blade 66.

A Blade

Referring now to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, blade 66 of the invention isshown. As can be seen in FIG. 12, blade 66 has a specifically configuredopening 65 with the proximal end of opening 65 being 108 for engagingabutment 78. However, as shown in FIG. 12, the distal end of opening 65is configured substantially differently from conventional blade openingsfor surgical blades. That is, the distal end includes an enlargedround-shaped opening 104 for receiving and engaging cleat 76 with thedistal extension 106 for receiving the extension 96 of cleat 76. Becauseof the undercut or overhang surface 98 of cleat 76, the blade is held ina more substantial position between the two halves of the holder 60 whenthe holder is in its closed position.

FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of ribbed portion 114 on the top surfaceof blade 66. FIG. 14 shows the opposed tapers 116 and 118 of blade 66forming cutting edge 112 of blade 66.

Thus, as will be appreciated from the above, there is provided inaccordance with this invention two forms of surgical blade holders whichare relatively simple and uncomplicated in construction and easilystamped from a selected material such as stainless steel in a massproduction line. In both arrangements, the user may insert a blade in avery simple manner and, again remove the blade without ever touching theblade if it should be in fact contaminated. It should be understood, ofcourse, that one embodiment of a holder of the invention may be used forblades other than surgical blades, or with conventional surgical blades.The simplicity of the structure is such that many uses may be providedwith the holder of the type described. However, it is also important tonote that the holder of the invention, regardless of its simplicity,holds the blade in a complete fixed position with no movement in theholder. This allows the user to provide a precise cutting action asdesired for the use of the blade being selected.

While the holder configured to fit the specific blade of the inventionhere is also easily stamped from stainless steel, for example, and maybe easily loaded and unloaded with the blade of the invention, it hassurfaces specifically configured on each half thereof to mate with thespecific blade configuration of the invention.

Again, while the blade of the invention is simple to use and tomanufacture, it has been developed with precisely arranged surfaces forthree dimensional mating with the holder in accordance herewith. Becauseof this the blade is fixed from movement in any dimensional direction ofits position in the cooperating holder.

An Alternative Blade Receiving Area

FIG. 16 shows an isometric or perspective view of a blade receiving area218 on a fixed handle portion 200, blade receiving area 218 beingconfigured to receive blade opening 65 in blade 66 (FIG. 12).

As shown in FIG. 16, blade receiving area 218 includes a cleat 201 thatis positioned at a distal end 210 of fixed handle portion 200 and anabutment 202. Cleat 201 and abutment 202 are spaced apart from eachother and do not have a raised boss portion therebetween, and arereceived by enlarged round-shaped opening 104 and proximal end 108,respectively, in blade opening 65. In contrast to boss 91 shown in FIG.15, only cleat 201 and abutment 202 extend through blade opening 65 whenblade 66 is placed on blade receiving area 218.

An overhang surface 204 in cleat 201 aides in securing blade 66 betweenfixed handle portion 200 and a rotatable handle portion (not shown),when the rotatable handle portion has been rotated about pivot axis 203and is in a closed position with respect to fixed handle portion 200. Inthe closed position, overhang surface 204 mates with the distal end ofthe rotatable handle portion to lock the blade in place, as describedabove with respect to FIGS. 9-11 and 15. In addition, a rear matingsurface 205 is provided on fixed handle portion 200 for receiving andmating with proximal end 110 of blade 66.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 16 may be manufactured by casting ormolding the handle portions, while the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 maybe manufactured from formed steel or by a stamping process. FIG. 17shows a blade receiving area 218 on fixed handle portion 200 having acleat 207 spaced apart from a coin shaped abutment 206. Cleat 207includes a leg 208 extending from distal end 210 and an arm 209extending from the end of leg 208 in the proximal direction of fixedhandle portion 200 to form an overhang structure. The overhang structureprovides for securing blade 66 between fixed handle portion 200 and therotatable handle portion, when the rotatable handle portion has beenrotated about pivot axis 203 and is in a closed position. FIG. 17 alsoshows rear mating surface 205 for receiving proximal end 110 of blade66.

The operation of the blade holders shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is similarto the operation of the other blade holders described above.

A Further Embodiment

FIGS. 18 and 19 are exploded isometric views of a further embodiment ofa surgical blade holder of the invention showing a blade 230 and acooperating blade receiving area 228 on a fixed handle portion 222. Therotatable handle portion is not shown so that blade receiving area 228can be seen more clearly. In this embodiment, blade 230 is loaded intothe holder with the fixed and rotatable handle portions in the closedposition. Therefore, blade 230 can be slid, for example, from a bladedispensing device, between the distal ends of the fixed and rotatablehandle portions and locked in place using one of the arrangementsdescribed below or equivalents thereof.

One such locking arrangement is shown in FIG. 18, wherein blade 230includes a cutting edge 234 surrounding the distal end of the blade, atab 231 projecting from the surface of the blade, and a rib 233extending between the distal end of the blade towards proximal end 235of the blade. Distal end 223 of fixed handle portion 222 also includes apivot axis 229 about which a rotatable handle portion (not shown)rotates to permit the holder to move between an opened position and aclosed position. As shown in FIG. 18, blade receiving area 228 at distalend 223 includes (i) a slanted depression 219 in the proximal end ofblade receiving area 228 for receiving tab 231 on blade 230 and (ii) agroove 227 that extends from distal end 223 towards the proximal end ofblade receiving area 228 for receiving rib 233 on blade 230. Fixedhandle portion 222 also includes a rear mating surface 225 that engageswith proximal end 235 of blade 230, when blade 230 is fully mounted inblade receiving area 228.

As blade 230 is being mounted in the holder shown in FIG. 18, with thefixed and movable handle portions in the closed position, rib 233 slidesin groove 227 until tab 231 is received by depression 219 and proximalend 235 of blade 230 mates with rear mating surface 225. When tab 231mates with depression 219 the blade is locked in the holder and therebysecured in three-dimensions. In addition, tab 231 on tang of blade 30permits a user to easily pick up blade 230 from a flat surface, ifnecessary, without having to touch cutting edge 234.

The holder and blade arrangement shown in FIG. 19 is substantiallysimilar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 18. However, tab 231 anddepression 219 in FIG. 18 have been replaced with an opening 232 inblade 230 and a slanted abutment 220 at distal end 223 of fixed handleportion 222.

More specifically, FIG. 19 shows blade receiving area 228 on fixedhandle portion 222 including (i) slanted abutment 220 which receivesopening 232 in blade 230 and (ii) groove 227 extending between distalend 223 to the proximal end of blade receiving area 228 which receivesrib 233. As with the arrangement shown in FIG. 18, when blade 230 isbeing mounted in the holder, rib 233 slides in groove 227 until proximalend 235 of blade 230 mates with rear mating surface 225. In the presentarrangement, however, slanted abutment 220 is received by opening 232 inblade 230 to lock blade 230 in the holder and secure it inthree-dimensions when it has been fully mounted in the holder.

An Alternative Locking Mechanism

An alternative locking mechanism for a surgical blade holder of thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.

FIG. 20 shows a side elevational view of rotatable handle portion 14 ofthe surgical blade holder having a locking channel 406 that forms a partof the alternative locking mechanism. Note that elements of handleportion 14 similar to elements in the handle portion shown in FIG. 4 areidentified using the same reference numbers. Rotatable handle portion 14in FIG. 20, however, does not include locking extension 26 shown in FIG.4.

The alternative locking mechanism also includes locking protrusion 408on fixed handle portion 12, as shown in FIG. 21. Locking protrusion 408is positioned on fixed handle portion 12 so to mate with locking channel406 on rotatable handle portion 14, when the device is in a closedposition. Again, the elements of fixed handle portion 12 in FIG. 21 incommon with elements in the fixed handle portion shown in FIG. 4 areidentified using the same reference numerals.

As with the blade holder shown in FIGS. 1-6, when portions 12 and 14 arelocked in the closed position using the alternative locking mechanism,rotary movement is prevented and the blade is locked securely in theblade receiving area. In addition, it should be understood that theblade receiving area shown in FIG. 21 is merely exemplary and could bereplaced with any of the blade receiving areas shown in FIGS. 15-19 orequivalents thereof.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms, and that changes may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention which isdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A blade holder comprising:an elongated fixed bodyportion including a distal end and a proximal end, said fixed bodyportion having a blade receiving area in the distal end for receiving ablade and a handle gripping area at the proximal end, said bladereceiving area having a slanted abutment for slidably receiving anopening in a blade when said blade is slid into the distal end andmounted in said blade receiving area; a pivot pin on said fixed bodyportion adjacent said blade receiving area, said pin having an axisperpendicular to said fixed body portion; and an elongated rotatablebody portion that is rotatable around said pivot pin from a closedportion for receiving said blade as said blade is slid into the distalend in the closed position and locking said blade in said bladereceiving area to an open position for releasing said blade from saidblade receiving area.
 2. The blade holder of claim 1, further comprisingfrictional gripping surfaces on each side of said fixed and rotatablebody portions for holding said blade holder during use.
 3. The bladeholder of claim 1, further comprising a frictional gripping surface on aside of said rotatable body portion for urging said rotatable bodyportion to the open position.
 4. The blade holder of claim 1, whereinsaid fixed body portion further comprises a groove in said bladereceiving area extending from the distal end towards the proximal end ofsaid fixed body portion for receiving a rib on said blade as said bladeis slid into the distal end of said holder.
 5. The blade holder of claim1, further comprising cooperating locking means on said fixed bodyportion and said rotatable body portion for locking said blade in saidblade receiving area.
 6. The blade of claim 5, wherein said cooperatinglocking means comprises:a locking channel on said rotatable bodyportion; and a locking protrusion on said fixed body portion, whereinsaid protrusion mates with said channel when said rotatable body portionis in the closed position, thereby locking said rotatable body portionto said fixed body portion in the closed position.
 7. A blade holdercomprising:an elongated fixed body portion including a distal end and aproximal end, said fixed body portion having a blade receiving area atthe distal end for receiving a tang of a blade and a handle grippingarea at the proximal end, said blade receiving area having a cleatpositioned at the distal end and an abutment spaced from said cleat inthe direction of the proximal end; a pivot pin on said fixed bodyportion between the distal end and the proximal end adjacent said bladereceiving area, said pin having an axis perpendicular to said fixed bodyportion; an elongated rotatable body portion having a distal end and aproximal end that is rotatably mounted to said pivot pin such that thedistal end and the proximal end both rotate around said pivot pin froman open position for receiving the tang of the blade in said bladereceiving area to a closed position for locking the tang of the blade insaid blade receiving area between the distal end of said fixed body andthe distal end of said rotatable body; a locking channel on saidrotatable body; and a locking protrusion on said fixed body, whereinsaid protrusion mates with said channel when said rotatable body is inthe closed position to lock said rotatable body to said fixed body inthe closed position and lock the tang of the blade in said bladereceiving area.
 8. The blade holder in claim 7, wherein said abutmenthas the shape of a coin.
 9. The blade holder in claim 7, wherein saidrotatable body portion includes an opposed surface and said cleat has anoverhang extending towards said abutment for engaging the opposedsurface of said rotatable body portion to lock the blade in said bladereceiving area.
 10. The blade holder of claim 7, wherein said rotatablebody portion includes an opposed surface and said cleat includes a legextending from the distal end of said fixed body portion and an armextending from said leg towards said abutment forming an overhang forengaging the opposed surface of said rotatable body portion to lock theblade in said blade receiving area.
 11. The blade holder of claim 7,further comprising frictional gripping surfaces on each side of saidfixed and rotatable body portions for holding said blade holder duringuse.
 12. The blade holder of claim 7, further comprising a frictionalgripping surface on a side of said rotatable body portion for urgingsaid rotatable body portion to the open position.